Paper napkin embossing, printing, and folding machine



'June 4, 1935. J 5 BURT 2,004,032

PAPER NAPKIN EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet l June'4, 1935. 5 J. s. BURT 2,004,032

PAPER NAPKIN EMBOSSINQ, PRINTING, AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. "12, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 June 4, 1935. J. 5, BURT 2,004,032

PAPER NAPKIN EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. s. BURT 2,004,032

PAPER NAPKIN EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND FOLDING MACHINE June 4, 1935.

- Filed Nov. 12, 17930 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 June 4, 1935. J 5 BURT 2,004,032

PAPER NAPKIN EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1950 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 L Z220 enjfog June '4, 1935.

7 J5. BURT 2,004,032

PAPER NAPKIN EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND, FOLDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 12, 1930 9 Sheets-Sheet 8 June 4, 1935. J 5. BURT 2,004,032

PAPER NAPKIN EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND FOLDING MAQHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet- 9 Filed Nov. 12, 1930 Patented June 4, 1935 l UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PAPER NAPKIN EMBOSSING, PRINTING, AND FOLDING MACHINE John S. Burt, Highland Park, N. J., assignor to John Waldron Corporation, New Brunswick, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 12, 1930, Serial No. 495,259 21 Claims. (01. 270-78) This invention relates to a machine for emeludes an embossing section I0, aprinting section bossing, printing, and folding paper napkins. II and a folding section [2. In addition, in op- An important object of the invention is to position to the embossing section, a stand I3 is provide a structure of this character in which p d d fo Supporting a plurality of r0113 5 a plurality of napkins can be simultaneously f pe pape from which the napkins are produced and in which the produced napkins formed. The embossing section includes a main may, after embossing,be either passed directly em o s n 1 5 a d a associated Pressure to folding mechanism by which they are folded, roll l6 and an auxiliary or name embossing. roll cut, and stacked or passed to the folding meeh- I! with its associated pressure r011 l8 together 10 anism through the printing mechanism forming with suitable rollers 19 for receiving one or more 10 a portion of the apparatus. of the webs W from therolls I 4 after their pas- A further and more specific object of the insage through the main embossing rolls and guidvention is the provision in a structure of this n th m by. with ut passa t u h, a character of a folding mechanism capable of nda y 1 am e bossi g roll. This section 1 use in folding napkins of different sizes, and em u t r i c ud s registering rolls 29, one for each .15

bodying a removable folding head by which the W final folds are produced, removal or substitution The printing m a s ll includes y Suitof which is all that is necessary to permit the able printing pp a u e those Present machine to be used with a different size of illustrated being four in numbentwo for each 2 napkin. web W so that multi-color printing may be re- 29 A further object of theinvention is the pro- Sorted Each printing apparatus is Shift- V o of a rotary folding and cutting mechaable in slides 22 so that its printing roll 23 may nism for producing final folds in the napkins be m v n r u f engagement w n and for severing the folded napkin from the associated p at 0 1 24 m w h t We 25 sheet from which it is produced, may be directly fed to the folding mechanism I2. 25

A still further object of the invention is the The folding mechanism des folding production of means for controlling the position pleughs e f r e b, a Pa Of creasing of both the napkin and the sheet while eng ged rolls 26, carrier belt'drive rollers 21, 28, a rotary with the folder. folder and cutter 29 receiving the initially fold- 30 These and other objects I attain by the Coned web from the creasing rolls to secondarily struction shown in the accompanying drawings d them, Separate them from the W d d wherein, for the purpose of illustration, I have ve! them to t Ca eb a S a mechshown a preferred embodiment of my invenanism 36 for receiving the napkins from the tion and wherein: carrier belts and stacking them for removal from Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a napkin embossthe machine and a counting mecha 3| 35 ing, printing and folding machine constructed reg s e t number of napkins delivered to in accordance with my invention; the stacking mechanism.

Fig. 2 is an outer end elevation partially in When the completed napkins are to be prosection of the folding mechanism; duced unembossed, or are to be primarily or 40 Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; secondarily embossed, the paths followed by the 40 Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2; webs WWl are those indicated by solid lines Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2; in Fig. 1 of the drawings until the idler roller Fig. 6 is an enlarged section on line 6'5 of l9-a beyond the secondary embossing rolls is Fig. 3; reached. From this point the web W1 may fol- Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the folding cylinlow either the dotted line course A, or the solid 45 der and the associated mechanism; line course which is indicated, the web W fol- Fig. 8 is a view similar to that of Fig. 6 with the lowing its solid line course. a It will be obvious folder rotated through 90 degrees; that by placing pressure on the primary em- Fig. 9 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional bossing roll 15, with the napkins following either view through the folder; and of the alternate paths just indicated, a primary 50 Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the folding mechembossing of both webs will be effected and it anism illustrating the counting and stacking atwill likewise be obvious that after such primary tachment. embossing a secondary embossing may take place,

Referring now to the drawings, and more parwhere this is desired, by placing pressure on ticularly to Figure 1 thereof, the machine inthe secondary embossing roll I! through its r011 belts 32 and 33- which operate face to face and,

municate the inner ends of slots ends. of which open through the inner edges of embossed but only one thereof secondarily embossed, as for example when producing at the same time napkins for two different customers, only one of whom wishes the secondary or name embossing feature, then the web W-l may follow the dotted line course B about rollers 59 and from this roller tothe registering roller 2d may follow either branch 13-4 or B-2 of this course dependent upon whether it is to follow the solid line course of the web W-l of the dotted line course A thereof. Thus, the napkins produced from the webs may be either unernbossed and unprinted or printed, primarily embossed and printed, or unprinted, primarily and secondarily the webs The machine isthus very flexible in production and will satisfy every need in the production of: paper napkins.

It will, of course, be understood that where printing is resorted to this printing may be done by-oneor more of the printing groups associated witheach web so that the printing is in one or more colors as desired.

Of the folding mechanism 52 the ploughs 2i: areof usual construction comprising a wedgeshaped plate overwhioh the web W is led from thewbutt toward the point end, and the point end of which .is directed between the creasing rollers 2'5. The rotary folding and cutting mechanism 29- receives thelongitudinally folded web to form a transverse fold therein .at the center of what is. to be a completed napkin and then severs the napkin end and delivers it between delivery as hereinbefore stated, deliver thenapkin to the folding mechanism 30. 1

This rotaryfolding and cutting mechanism comprises-a base 35 having flanges 35 along its side edges operating in slides 36 having means 3? associated therewith to clamp the base in adjusted position. Arising from the base are bearings 38 in which a shaft 33 is'journaled. Se-

cured to the shaft 39 between the bearings 38 is a drum in constructed to provide. circumferentially-spaced, longitudinally-extending pockets. These pockets, as'more clearly shown inEig. 8, are formed in diametrically-arranged pairs indicated by numerals M and t2 respective1y.- In the pockets ii are arranged pairs of jaws 63, each jaw comprising a plate 44 (Fig. 9) extending longitudinally of the pocket and having its inner face at the outer edge thereof milled or otherwise roughened as at to produce a gripping surface.

Each plate has'formed therein a series of longitudinally-spaced openings it with which comi'l, the outer the platesr Springs, in the form of split rings, 58, retain the jawswith their gripping faces 65 normally in engagement, each spring being cornposedof material of a thickness such that it may g be entered in the openings it through the slots M and then rotated so that its end portions may engage in' notches 59 formed in the plate. The inner end edges of the plates are arranged inlongitudinally-extending grooves 59 formed in the'inner wall of the pocket ll, Longitudinallyis. n it is desired that both webs be primarily extending bars 5! mounted in the side walls of the pockets ii and notched at 552 to receive the springs 48 serve to retain the jaws in position in the pocket, each bar having small outlet openings for a purpose presently to appear.

Between each pair of jaws is arranged a cammining shaft 54,- the ends of which project through the end walls 55 of the drum and have secured thereto arms 55 the inner ends of which have rollers 5i engaging stationary cams 58. Cams 58 are each provided with a peak serving to elevate the rollers radially outward thereby rotating the shaft and moving the jaws through the action of the cams from the posi tion shown in the lower portion of Fig. 8 to the position shown in the upper portion thereof.

As will be noted from an inspection of the cam shown in this figure in dotted lines, the cam serves to maintain the jaws in open position from a point where the napkin N is disengaged from the jaws to a point opposed to-a tucker blade 63. tucker blade is mounted upon a shaft 6 l mounted at its ends in bearings supportedfroin the bearings iand driven from the drum in timed relation thereto, as for example, by 2 to 1 reduction gearing indicated generally at 62. Justprior to theclosing of the jaws occurring through springs upon release of the.- rollersfil from the peaks of the cams-58, this tucker blade enters between the jaws moving before it the web"W so that as the jaws close, they close upon the web and form a transverse fold in the web. The tucker blade is at present shown as formed in two sections but may, obviously, if so desired; be formed in a single section.

In the pockets t2. are disposed knives' iii and retaining wedges M therefor. Each knifefit, at each rotation of the drum, is brought into co-operative relation to a stationary knife blade tit-canried by the base 34 and mounted for adjustment toward and away fromthe-drum' so that proper co-action with the movable knife blades may behad.

The outer or rear end of' the shaft 39- has mounted thereon. a relatively stationary distributor headtdheld in position. against the-end of the shaft by a spring-pressed thrust bearing til. This distributor head has twoinlets designoted at 68 and 69 respectively, each inlet communicating with a longitudinally-extending port 5! mounting a tube 53 This 78 opening through the'inner. face ofthe head:

Shaft 39 hasforrned therein 4* longitudinally-extending ports l l each communicating through-a radial port l2- forrned partially in an adjacent end head it of thedrum and partially in the shaft with one of the tubes 53. The inlets 558 and 65B are in communication through valved branch 11 fl overlies the e-tern 853 of the valve. Each lever a roller 82 to operate against the periphery of a earn @2 orfit. These earns are'carried by the end of the tucker blade'shaft 5i and are, accordingly, rotated twice for each rotation of the drum.

When the valve 'll'of'the branch is conimunioating with inlet is actuated, which occurs as one of the jaw assemblies is co-operating with the tucker blade, and the cutting operation is taking place between a movable knife 63 and the stationary knife 65, a blast of air is delivered through a tube 53 and the ports thereof, this tube lying immediately in advance of and adjacent to the jaw assembly which is co-acting with the tucker blades. This results in the severed end of the napkin web being blown outwardly from the surface of the drum as indicated in Fig. 6 of the drawings so that this end of the napkin may finally assume a position where it trails from the jaws and overlies what is to be the other end of the folded napkin.

When the valve of the other branch is actuated, which occurs when the drum has been rotated through approximately 90 degrees from the position just mentioned, a blast of air is delivered to the tube trailing a jaw assembly which is arranged in proximity to the delivery belts 32. This blast of air is delivered at the time when the jaw assembly opens to permit escape of the nap kin, and the napkin is, accordingly, blown against an overlying delivery belt and held thereagainst by the blast until it comes into the bight 84 between these belts.

It will be noted that the peak of cam 83 controlling the latter operation is relatively long while that of cam 82 controlling the former operation is relatively short, this difference in sizes being due to the fact that in the first instance it is merely necessary to blow the napkin away from the surface of the roll the speed of the roll then acting to retain the blown out end in a trailing position while in the latter operation it is necessary that the blast be continued until the napkin actually enters the bight between the belts The drive for the rotating folder and cutter is at present shown as derived from a gear 85 on the shaft of the belt drive roller 28.

Any suitable means for driving the drum may be provided, but any means provided should be of such character that it will not interfere with removal of the drum and its base from the folder section I 2 as a unit. It will be noted that by freeing the base 34 and disconnecting the branch conduits M at the coupling 16 thereof, the unit represented by the valve mechanism, the rotary folder 239 and the associated tucker blade, may be bodily removed for substitution by a further unit wherein the diameter of the rotary folder 29 is of greater or smaller size, thus permitting use of the apparatus in producing napkins of different sizes with but a slight change in the machine struc ture. It will, of course, be understood that the ploughs 25 will fold webs of any width which may be desired.

In order that the controlling blasts of air'employed in conjunction with the operation of the rotary folder may act properly upon the napkins when delivered thereto, the periphery of the drum is preferably grooved as indicated at 86 so that the air blast may move circumferentially of the drum and the tendency of the napkins to cling to the surface of the drum may be reduced.

The delivery belts 32 are in the form of straps,

these straps being arranged in pairs andthe then downwardly past the inner face of the rack. Below the rack the inner belt is returned over idlers 89 and 90 to the roll 28 while the outer belt returns over idlers 9| and 92, roller 27 and idler 93 to the periphery of roller 28.

Means for removing the napkins from between the delivery belts to the rack 88 comprises a stop member 94 limiting the downward travel of the napkins in their vertical delivery travel so that they are properly aligned for entry in the rack and an oscillatory member including fingers 95 to pass between the stops forming the delivery belts and deliver the napkin into the rack. Stop 94 is at present shown as in the form of a lever including the stop proper, a shaft 98 and a relatively short arm 91. The short arm 9'! projects adjacent one face of a ratchet disk 98 having arranged thereon one or more pins 99 adapted to engage the arm and by engaging the same to elevate stop 9Q so that the napkin is held in an elevated position and will project above the r maining napkins of the rack when delivered thereto as indicated at N in Fig. 2. Travel of the ratchet disc is accomplished through a pitman connection till with the inner end of shaft 6| to a bell crank mechanism I 6! including a dog )2 for co-action' with the teeth of the disc. Operation ofthe oscillatory member for removing the napkins to the rack from between the delivery belts connection 23 between the inner end of drive roll 28 and a crank arm I04 mounted on a shaft N35. to which the oscillatory mechanism is secured. Shaft I05 preferably provides a mounting for the ratchet disc mechanism lill.

In the production of napkins with a machine of this character, assuming that it is desired that the produced napkins be plain, with the exception of a general embossed pattern; the webs are passed about the primary embossing roll and then directly over the platens 24 to ploughs 25 where they are given the longitudinal fold. This fold is creased between rolls 2B and the webs are then delivered to the rotary folder and cutter 29. The tucker blade '50 engages each web in a pair of the jaws 43 and the fold formed by this blade is retained between the jaws due to the fact that the gripping portions of the jaws are roughened while the tucking end of the blade is tapered and smoothed. Simultaneously with the gripping of the newly formed tuck, the preceding portion of the napkin is severed by co-action of a knife 63 with the stationary knife blade and a blast of air is delivered beneath the portion of the napkin lying between the gripping jaws and the active cutting blade so that the free end of the napkin is blown outwardly from the roll and may assume a trailing position. This trailing position is assured as the jaws pass the stationary knife 65 which acts to engage against the freed end of the web should it project. After passing knife 65 and after rotation of the drum from the point where the gripping action took place through 186 degrees, the napkin gripped by the jaws is freed from the web by action of the following cutting knife of the drum against stationary knife 65. After passing through a further degrees or through a total of 270 degrees from the gripping point, the jaws grippung the napkin are opened and at the same time a blast of air is delivered through the tube 5 immediately following the jaws. This blast of air which is continued through a relatively long is accomplished through a pitman 98 and the bell crank period of rotation of the drum forces the napkin against the inner delivery belt and maintains it against this inner delivery belt until it is engaged by both belts at bight The napkin then moves be .veen the delivery belts until it reaches the stacking mechanism into which it is delivered, as previously described.

Ihe cycle for production of napkins which are both primarily and secondarily embossed differs from the foregoing only in that the webs after passage over the primary embossing rolls are passed over the secondary embossing roll before delivery to the ploughs It will, of course, be understood that one of the webs can be passed to the secondary embossing roll alone and the other passed directly to its plough, or both webs can be passed over these rolls. Similarly, either of the webs in either of the arrangements above described may be passed through the printing mechan 1 before delivery to the ploughs.

Since the construction hereinbeiore set forth is obviously capable of a considerable range of change and modification without in any manner departing from the spirit of my invention, I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto except as hereinafter claimet.

I claim:

l. Ina folder, a rotating roll having pairs or" circumferentially-spaced, 101-" tudinally-extendgripping jaws normally in gripping relation to one another, a tucking blade associated. with the roll and operating in timed relation thereto for tucking a web between the jaws be thereby during rotation of the roll, longitudinaliy-extending cutting blade anged between adjacent pairs of jaws and a stationary cutter blade associated with tl" roll for co-action with said cutter blade to sever the trati g portion or" the web from that gripped in the is 2. In a folder, a rotating roll having oi circumferential1y-spaced, longitudinally"extending gripping jaws normally in relation 7 to one another, a tucking blade associated with the roll and operating in timed relation thereto for tucking a web between the jaws to be held thereby during rotation of the roll, a longitudinally-extending cutting blade arranged between adjacent pairs of jaws, a stationary cutter blade associated with the roll for co-aotion .Jith said cutter blade to sever the trailing portion of the web from that portion gripped in the jaws, and means for forcing the trailing portion of the web outwardly from the roll as it is severed by said blades.

3. Ina folder, a rotating roll having pairs of circumferentially-spaced, longitudinally-extending gripping jaws normally in gripping relation to one another, a tucking blade associated with the roll and operating in timed relation thereto for tucking a web between the jaws to be held thereby during rotation of the roll and at a point spaced from the end of the web, and means to sever the trailing portion of the web from that gripped in the jaws at a point in alignment with the end of the web, including a shear blade carried by the roll and a stationary shear blade coacting with the shear blade or" the r ll.

4-. In a folder, a rotating roll having oi circumferentially-spaced, longitudi ally-e tend" ing grippin jaws normally in gripping relation to one another, a tucking blade associated with the roll and operating in timed relation thereto for tucking a web between the jaws to be held thereby during rotation of the rollymeans to sever the trailing portion of the from that gripped in the jaws, and means carried by the roll for forcing the trailing portion of the web outwardly from the roll as it is severed by the last-named means.

5. In a rotary folder, a rotating roll having a pair of longitudinally-extending gripping jaws normally resiliently held in gripping relation to one another, means associated with the jaws for opening the same through a portion of the rotation of the drum and a tucking blade associated with the roll and operating in timed relation thereto for tucking the web between the jaws to be held thereby during rotation of the roll until the jaws are reopened and air blast means for blowing the web outwardly from the roll as the jaws are opened.

6. In a rotary folder, a rotating drum having a pair of longitudinally-extending gripping jaws normally resiliently held in gripping relation to one another, means associated with the jaws for opening the same through a portion of the rotation of the drum, a tucking blade associated with the roll'and operating in timed relation thereto for tucking the web between the jaws to be held thereby during rotation of the roll until the jaws are reopened, and means including a part carried by the drum and a part stationary with relation to the drum for severing the trailing portion of the web from that gripped in the" jaws.

7. In a rotary folder, a rotating drum having a pair of longitudinally-extending gripping jaws normally resiliently held in gripping relation to one another, means associated with the jaws for opening the same through a portion of the rotation of the drum, a tucking blade associated with the roll and operating in timed relation thereto for tucking the web between the jaws to be held thereby during rotation of the roll until the jaws are reopened, means including a part carried by the drum for severing the trailing portion of the web from that gripped in the jaws, and means carried by the drum for forcing the trailing portion of the web outwardly from the drum as it is severed by the last-named means.

8. A machine for producing folded articles from a Web, means for feeding the web, a folder unit engaging the web to fold the same and to sever the article from the web and a driving connection between said folder unit and said web feeding means, said unit being bodily removable.

9. In a machine for producing folded articles from a web, means for feeding the web, a folder unit comprising a rotating drum driven from said web feeding means and supporting means for said drum including a part co-acting with a part carried by the drum to sever the formed article from the web, said drum and its supporting means being bodily removableby a movement axial to'the drum.

10. In a machine of the class described, a rotating head having circunfierentially-spaced pairs of normally closed gripping jaws, means for opening the jaws during a portion of each rotation of the head, means for tucking a web between the jaws as they are closing and means for severing the web between the pairs of jaws including a shear blade carried by the head and a stationary shear blade co-acting with the shear blade of the head. r

, 11. In a machine of the class described, a rotating head having circumferentially-spaced pairs of normally closed gripping jaws, ,means for opening the jaws during a portion of each rotation of. the head, means for tucking a web between the jaws as they are closing, means for severing the web between the pairs of jaws, and pneumatic means for forcing the end of the web in advance of the pair of jaws last engaged therewith outwardly from the head.

12. In a machine of the class described, a rotating head having normally closed gripping jaws, means for opening the jaws during a portion of each rotation of the head, perforated pipes carried by the head and paralleling the jaws on opposite sides thereof, and a distributor for alternately delivering fluid pressure to said pipes.

13. In a machine of the class described, a rotating head having normally closed gripping jaws, means for opening the jaws during a portion of each rotation of the head, perforated pipes carried by the head and paralleling the jaws on opposite sides thereof, and a distributor associated with said head and delivering air to the pipe in advance of. the jaws as the jaws are closing and to the pipe rearwardly of the jaws as the jaws are opening.

14. In a machine of the class described, a rotating head having normally closed gripping jaws, means for opening the jaws during a portion of each rotation of the head, perforated pipes carried by the head and paralleling the jaws on opposite sides thereof, a distributor associated with said head and delivering air to the pipe in advance of the jaws as the jaws are closing and to the pipe rearwardly of the jaws as the jaws are opening, and a delivery mechanism associated with said head and including belts traveling face to face through a portion of their length, one of said belts including a portion opposing the head at the moment of opening of the jaws.

15. In a machine for primarily and secondarily folding and stacking a web, primary folding mechanism, stacking mechanism and an intermediately disposed folder embodying a rotating drum having folding jaws, a tucking mechanism for the web engaging the web between said jaws and means for severing the web from the portion thereof engaged in the jaws after a predetermined rotation of the drum from the tucking position, said drum, tucking and cutting mechanism being removable as a unit.

16. In a machine of the class described, a retating drum having normally closed gripping jaws, a tucker associated with and operating in timed relation to said drum for tucking a web between the jaws, pneumatic means for controlling the position of the web with relation to the jaws and means associated with and operated by said tucking means controlling the operation of said pneumatic means.

17. In a machine of the class described, a rotating head having circumferentially-spaced pairs of gripping jaws, means for consecutively tucking a web between the jaws of each pair as the head is rotated, means for severing the web between the jaws, and means for delivering a blast of air through the head for blowing the portion of the web in advance of. the jaws last engaged therewith outwardly from the head.

18. In a folder, a rotating drum and an associated tucker rotating about an axis stationary with relation to the drum, means for feeding a plurality of webs in side to side relation between the tucker and the drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced means carried by the drum for engaging a tuck formed by the tucker, a shear carried by the drum between said tuck-engaging means and a stationary shear to act upon the webs when stretched between said tuck-engaging means in co-action with the shear of the drum.

19. In a folder, a rotating drum and an associated tucker rotating about an axis stationary with relation to the drum, means for feeding a plurality of webs in side to side relation between the tucker and the drum, a plurality of circumferentially spaced means carried by the drum for engaging a tuck formed by the tucker, a shear carried by the drum between said tuck-engaging means, a stationary shear to act upon the webs when stretched between said tuck-engaging means in oo-action with the shear of the drum, and means carried by the drum adjacent each tucking means for directing the end of the severed web in advance of the tucking means outwardly from the drum as it is severed.

20. In a folder, a rotating drum and an associated tucker comprising a blade continuously rotating about a fixed axis to which the blade is radial, said axis being stationary, means for feeding a web between the drum and tucker, means carried by the drum for gripping a tuck formed by the tucker and means including a part carried by the drum for severing the trailing portion of the web from that portion thereof gripped by said gripping means.

21. In a machine of the class described, a rotating head having normally closed gripping jaws, means for opening the jaws during a portion of each rotation of the head, means for tucking a web between the jaws as they are closing, and air blast means carried by the head for forcing the web outwardly from the head as the jaws are opened.

JOHN S. BURT. 

